Bern, Switzerland [CD EUDNews; Wikipedia; UN]. International Women's Day, originally called International Working Women's Day, is marked on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements.
Started as a Socialist political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries, primarily Eastern Europe, Russia, and the former Soviet bloc. In some regions, the day lost its political flavor, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love for women in a way somewhat similar to a mixture of Mother's Day and Valentine's Day. In other regions, however, the political and human rights theme designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner.
Worldwide today:
-Up to 50% of sexual assaults are committed against girls under the age of 16.
-Globally, 603 million women live in countries where domestic violence is not yet considered a crime.
-Up to 70% of women in the world report having experienced physical and/or sexual violence at some point in their lifetime.
-Over 60 million girls worldwide are child brides, married before the age of 18…
In the face of such unacceptable figures, the international community is strongly committed to change the plight of women. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) requires that countries party to the Convention take all appropriate steps to end violence (United Nations).
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women” seeks to strengthen international community’s commitment to put an end to violence against women. As part of the effort the UN leads to fight violence against women, Secretary-Generals Ban Ki-moon's UNiTE campaign calls on all governments, civil society, women’s organizations, men, young people, the private sector, the media and the entire UN system to join forces in addressing this global pandemic.
"The Department of Women's Ministries of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church is strongly committed to raise awareness on political, social and cultural issues regarding women. Our department supports gender equality and women’s fundamental rights. Our dream is that soon all people, especially women would have the same chances in life and that all fundamental rights would be respected”, so Denise Hochstrasser, Women’s Ministries Department Director in the EUD region.
To learn more about the women's ministries of the Adventist Church, please visit the web pages: www.women.eud.adventist.org and http://www.itfaces.me
pictures: The mimose (wikipedia); Women in action (EUD Women's ministry);
